TO BEGIN - Random rhetorical poll:
Is anyone else playing HQ obsessively and not getting anywhere with it? Like, I get so close and then fail on a question about what two letters are on a gas gauge in a car (okay, that was a Q3, but I have gotten farther and failed on a dud). It's just annoying.
I'm smart, damnit.
I also always know the answer to the one right after being eliminated.
Anywho, I came here today with some recent insights into the art of AirBnB booking. After three strenuous sessions of nailing down every stop along our Friendcation; full of delirium, my tried and true travel bff and I found ourselves almost begging for the AirBnB hosts to accept us. Now, when I say "accept us" and begging... it sounds like we are needy travelers with no redeeming qualities that make us undesirable guests. I am a little biased, but obviously, that is completely untrue.
You see, the real trouble is, we kind of waited a little too long to casually book our two week excursion. That had left us with hiked up prices, unsavory host reviews*, and all around limited options...
If you've never booked on the site, it is important to know that some hosts require you to write them the reason why you are booking and a little bit about who you are. I totally get it... I'd want to know who is using my place for the night, too. But after a while, you kind of feel like less of a potential guest and more like a potential date.
As more and more options dwindled and there were less and less postings under $5,000,000 a night, our efforts toward nabbing the reasonably priced locations went from:
Dear ______,
You're place looks lovely! Hoping to hear back from you! :)
to:
Dear ______,
You're place looks lovely! Do I see a puppy in your profile picture?! So adorable! I have a puppy I just rescued from a local shelter! We're so similar!
Anyway, we are 5 American girls who met back in primary school and have been friends ever since! We have never broken the law, and for fun, we like to engage in deep, thought-provoking conversations about nature and science. We enjoy long walks on the beach, but no worries! We'll take off our shoes before stepping in your magnificent cottage! Wouldn't want to scuff that rare luxury vinyl tile mahogany flooring.
If you'd like to host us, please contact our employers (we all work together at the convent during the week and at a day camp for the children in our community over the weekend)!
Looking forward to your "yes" response! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Love you, mean it!
Sincerely,
Your New BFFs :)
With the new tactic, I am happy to report:
We're completely booked / accepted / ready to roll!
...And that is how it's done, kids!
Skål y'all xx
* one review had a guest say that they got back from their day trip to find the host in the house (that they had entirely rented out), sitting at the table after making himself a cup of tea. And later returned to do laundry with a buddy.
Please and no thank you.